Ah, Halloween. The holiday least suited for my personality.
Costumes are fine. Candy is great. But ask me to watch a horror movie? Or go on a ghost tour? Or accompany you on a haunted hay ride? [Shudders.] Yeah. I’ll pass.
There is only one place where I can handle some suspense. And that place is in books.
As the days grow shorter and colder, I get the urge to read a spooky book for fall and Halloween. Because eating peanut butter cups and reading a title involving monsters, magic, or murder are the only ways I’m going to celebrate this holiday.
If you’re also seeking a little extra suspense, my favorite spooky books for fall and Halloween are below. These titles are approved by this sensitive reader to not give you nightmares – but they might keep you reading past your bedtime.
Spooky Books for Fall
The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern.
I read this years ago, but still think about some of the sumptuous scenes. This book takes place en route with a traveling circus. But this is no ordinary circus. This is a circus is only open at night. It appears and disappears without warning. It magical and mysterious and just a little dark. And it is the stage where two magicians are pitted against each other and get caught up in their competition. There’s a little magic, a little romance, and a little rebellion. And yes, I am already on the library hold list for Morgenstern’s newest book The Starless Sea, even though it doesn’t come out for another month.
The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel – Dianne Setterfield.
A novelist has never told the truth about her life. Now, as she is dying, she summons a biographer to her house to tell her “thirteenth tale.” Her story feels like a dark fairy tale gone wrong, with ghosts and twins and mysterious deaths. You won’t be able to stop until you reach the ending – which will leave you reeling. This book is a whole MOOD – it’s truly the perfect spooky book for fall.
Rebecca – Daphne du Marier.
Our narrator, anxious to escape her life, marries a man she just met and is whisked away to his house, where she discovers that something is terribly wrong. What, exactly, happened to his first wife? I started reading this one evening and read, without stopping, until 2am. At that point, I reached the critical moment where I was so utterly creeped out (that housekeeper!) that I had to go to bed. The next morning, I didn’t even change out of my pajamas before I finished the story.
The Hound of the Baskervilles – Arthur Conan Doyle.
I always enjoy a good Sherlock Holmes story. Plus, what setting could be more spooky than a misty moor? Throw in a demonic dog, an escaped convict, and a mire full of quicksand, and you have a mystery with just enough terror to keep things interesting. This one was great on audio.
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte.
Jane is orphaned as a child, goes from one tragic situation to another, and ultimately finds love – but not without some truly creepy moments. One particular scene involving a wedding veil still lingers in my mind, and I read this in high school. (If you’ve read the book, you know what I’m talking about.)
Frankenstein – Mary Shelley.
This classic is part slasher film, part tragedy raising deep questions about human responsibility. Victor Frankenstein brings a monster to life and abandons him. The monster, outcast from society, vows revenge. Since I read this in college, author and illustrator Lita Judge has released Mary’s Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein. It’s supposed to be fantastic, and it’s my personal pick for Halloween reading this year.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Robert Louis Stevenson.
Another classic spooky pick, this book is a sinister story of what happens when a man tries to flee from his conscience. It’s a quick read that will make you feel much more informed about the oft-used allusion.
A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness.
This is one of my favorite books I read last year. Conor, a boy struggling with his mother’s cancer diagnosis, wakes up to find a monster at his window – and that monster won’t let him rest until he tells the truth. While this is a YA book, anyone would enjoy it, especially those who appreciate stunning illustrations and a story that is tender, haunting, and just a little spooky.
Rook – Sharon Cameron.
This book reads like it is set in Paris during the French Revolution – prisoners are losing their heads to the Razor, daring horseback escapes take place by moonlight – but it is actually set in the future. Technology has failed, the world is tossed back to times before computers and cars. As political upheaval sweeps over Paris, the Rook saves prisoners from the guillotine, leaving only a red-tipped feather in their place. Meanwhile, Sophia tries to save her wealthy family from ruin through an engagement to a man with secrets. Intrigue, suspense, and romance follow. This is a zingier, dystopian A Tale of Two Cities – but it works. (P.S.: I just discovered that this is based on The Scarlet Pimpernel, which has now been added to my TBR.)
An Acquaintance with Darkness – Ann Rinaldi.
I read copious amounts of Ann Rinaldi in my middle school historical fiction obsession. This story is the only one I remember at all. Around the time of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, Emily has been orphaned and left with her uncle, a prominent doctor. But there are rumors flying everywhere. Did people Emily loves have something to do with Lincoln’s assassination? What is her uncle doing late at night that’s raising suspicion about his medical studies? A macabre pick perfect for middle schoolers seeking out a spooky book for fall.
P.S. Looking for less spookiness? Check out my cozy fall reads list!
What are your favorite spooky books for fall? Let me know in the comments or find me on Instagram @annaleighsaxton!
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